Raiders keep Giorgio Tavecchio with ERFA tender

After the Oakland Raiders informed kicker Sebastian Janikowski they would not be bringing him back for the 2018 NFL season in February, the Raiders have decided to place a one-year tender on kicker Giorgio Tavecchio as an exclusive rights free agent, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The report also says Tavecchio is the favorite to win the job this season, but the team will still bring in left-footed kickers (keeps the holding mechanics the same) to compete against Tavecchio during camp.

The former journeyman Cal grad kicker played well in 2017 in place of Janikowski who was on injured reserve. Tavecchio made 16 out of 21 field goals and 33 out of 34 extra point attempts.

The $550,000 contract paid out to Tavecchio is almost nothing compared to the $3.36 million Oakland paid Janikowski last season, per Spotrac.

As such, that’s $3 million Reggie McKenzie can spend elsewhere this free agency to improve the team than he had last year.